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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4966

Congress targets grocery price gouging and bans personal data-based pricing, restricting digital shelf labels

Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

7 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Congress Moves to Ban Digital Price Tags and Surveillance-Based Pricing
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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • Would ban grocery stores from charging “grossly excessive” prices, with the Federal Trade Commission setting clear rules for what counts.
  • Lets stores defend a price increase if they can show it was caused by higher costs they couldn’t control, like shipping or supplier price hikes.
  • Would ban “surveillance-based” pricing in stores—meaning changing prices for you based on your personal info, including info collected with facial recognition.
  • Would require clear signs at the main entrance if a grocery store uses facial recognition, explaining it and why it’s used.
  • Would ban electronic price tags in grocery stores larger than 10,000 square feet, and lets consumers, states, and the FTC sue or enforce penalties (at least $3,000 per violation).
Consumer ProtectionData PrivacyTechnology

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(1)
Union Member
Hurts
Mixed Impacts(2)
Military Veteran
Neutral
Student
Neutral
Positive Impacts(3)
Housing Assistance
Helps
Child Tax Credit
Helps
Snap Food Stamps
Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Aug 12, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Aug 12, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 180 days after the bill becomes law

FTC writes and issues rules explaining what counts as “grossly excessive” grocery prices

This is when the price-gouging ban becomes clearer in practice (what baseline prices are compared to, what “market” means, and what pricing jumps trigger enforcement). Until these rules exist, it may be harder for shoppers and stores to know what will be treated as illegal.

Soon after the bill becomes law (exact timing not stated)

Large grocery stores stop using electronic shelf labels (digital price tags) in stores over 10,000 sq ft

Shoppers would mostly see paper shelf labels again in big stores. Stores may have fewer rapid price changes on the shelf, but employees may spend more time changing paper tags.

Shortly after the bill becomes law; may align with FTC enforcement guidance

Stores change loyalty/discount programs to meet the “no surveillance-based price setting” rules

Discounts should have clear eligibility rules and work the same way for everyone who qualifies. People may notice fewer personalized prices that depend on tracking, and clearer explanations of how discounts work.

Soon after the bill becomes law (exact timing not stated)

Stores using facial recognition add clear signs at the main entrance explaining it

Shoppers get notice before entering and can decide whether to shop there. If a store fails to post signs, it could face enforcement or lawsuits.

After the bill becomes law and violations are discovered

Consumers and states begin bringing cases using the new $3,000-per-violation minimum damages rule

If violations happen, the money-at-stake and the ban on forced arbitration/class-action waivers could make it easier for shoppers to challenge stores in court and potentially get paid.

Related Bills

1 bill
S. 3892Related bill

Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026

Feb 12 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 4966
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(65)
D: 65

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.